Supporting device for infants



June 9, 1942. M. M. CHAPMAN I SUPPORTING QEVICE FOR INFANTS Filed Feb. 5, 1941 'INVENTOR.

BY MARY/748770 G MP/w) W MM ATTORNEY.

Patented June 9 1942 SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR INFANTS Mary Martin Chapman, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, asaignor to Steel Fabricators Co., a corporation of Ohio Application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,507

2 Claims.

practice was tiresome to the attendant who, due

to the size and shape of a bathtub was usually forced to assume an awkward and uncomfortable position to bathe the infant.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved support for use in bathing and shampooing infants in a conventional bathtub, which'avoids' the drawbacks and inconveniences of prior practices, and serves to support the infant within the tub independently of an attendant.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a device of this character, of a back rest portion which is susceptible of a wide range of adjustments, whereby the device is adaptable for use with infants of varying ages.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of this character so constructed as to comfortably and conveniently hold the infant in a predetermined position during bathing and shampooing, thereby preventing contact with the walls of the tub, and facilitating the work of the attendant.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device of this class which is relatively easy and economical to manufacture and which is convenient and safe to use.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent and better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figure 5 is asectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

With reference to the drawing, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a bathtub l0 ofthe conventional type having disposed therein an infants support constructed in accordance with the present invention, broadly indicated by the numeral I2, and comprising a frame l3 having a cover 14 disposed thereover. The frame l3 (Figure 2) is of substantially rectangular shape, including longitudinal side members I5 and transverse end members [6. The side members i5 adjacent one end thereof are upwardly bent out of the plane of the frame to form an inclined foot rest at one end of the support. For removably anchoring the support within a bathtub, the frame 13 adjacent the corners thereof is provided with suction cup i'l. Aligned longitudinal slots iii formed in the side members l5 serve to adjustably position on the upper surfaces'of the side members 15, shoes [9 which may be clamped in any predetermined position with respect to the side members by means of bolts 20 extending through the slots l8. The shoes l9 have one end thereof reversibly bent, as at 2|, to provide trunnions which receive the ends of a transverse rod 22.

Welded to the cross-rod 22 is a U-shaped member'23 which serves as a frame for the upstanding back rest of the support. The legs of the U- shapedmember 23 are preferably longitudinally slotted as at 24 to receive bolts 25 for adjustably securing to the legs 24 extension members 26. The upper extremities of the extension members 26 are curved, as at 21, so that when the member 21 is encased within a cover, a flexible supporting surface is provided for the head and neck of an infant. The back rest 23 is maintained or held in an upwardly inclined position with respect to the base frame by means of a rod 28, one end of which is suitably attached to a leg 24 of the U-shaped member 23. The other end of the rod 28 is reversibly bent to form a loop 3| which is adjustably received in one of a plurality of spaced inverted T-slots 32 formed in a bar 33, aflixed to one of the side members I5.

To complete the infant's support, a cover ll, made of a suitable fabric, is placed over the frame i3. In order that the cover may be easily removed froin the frame for purposes of cleaning or renewing the same, the cover preferably takes the form of opposed envelopes or pockets 34 and 35. The pocket 34 of the cover is adapted to encase the base of the frame from the foot rest portion to the point where the U-shaped member 23 is attached thereto, and the portion 34 encases the U-shaped member 23 to complete the back rest of the support. Suitable openings are provided in the cover so that the same may be fitted over the suction cups l1 and the supporting rod 28. The thus formed cover, when disposed. over the frame If, provides an uninterrupted supporting surface .from the foot rest to the. upper end of the back rest. A transverse loop 31 having its ends secured to the sides of the pocket 35 of the cover is loosely disposed across the back rest. Strap members 38 attached to the member 31 form a belt for securing the infant to the back rest in such a manner as to permit a certain amount of movement on the part of the infant with respect to the back rest of the support.

In bathing and/or shampooing an infant with the aid of the adjustable support constructed in accordance with the present invention, the cover It is first placed over the frame l3 and the: snug fltof the back rest and base members withinthe pockets of the cover provides a taut uninterrupted supporting surface for the infant. The sup-- port is then placed in a tub into which has: been previously drawn the proper quantity of bath water at the proper temperature for bathing or shampooing an infant, and the suction cups I! act to hold the support firmly in one position on the bottom of the tub. The back rest of the device is then adjusted to the most suitable position and the infant placed on the support and strapped to the back rest. The infant so fixed on the support is safely secured in a desired position, requiring no aid from the attendant, who, therefore, may use both hands to bathe and shampoo the infant. The slackness in the body securing member 31 allows the child sumcient room to move comfortably within safe limits and the upper curved portion of the cover of the back restforms a comfortable resting place for the rest permit the frame work to be enlarged as the infant grows, making it suitable for use in early infancy and for an extended period of time thereafter.

Having thus described my invention so that persons skilled in the art may understand and 7 practice the same, what I desire to obtain by Letinfant's head. The adjustability of the back rest on the base and extension arms of the back ters Patent is embodied in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame adapted to be placed in a horizontal. position within a bathtub,'a substantiall U-shaped upstanding supporting member pivotally attached to said frame member intermediate the ends thereof and having the open end thereof remote. from the frame, means for adjustably positioning said supporting member longitudinally of said frame, means for maintaining said supporting member in a predetermined angled position, a cover for said frame and support, and means attached to the lower surface of the frame for removably securing the device to the surface of the bathtub.

2. A frame adapted to be placed in a horizontal position within a bathtub, a substantially U- shaped upstanding supporting member pivotally attached to said frame member intermediate the ends thereof and. having the open end thereof remote from the frame, the arms of said supporting members being provided with extension members adjustably secured thereto, means for maintaining said support in a predetermined angled position, means for adjustably positioning said supporting member longitudinally of said frame, a cover for said frame and support, said cover means adapted to encase the supporting member and a portion of said frame member, and means attached to the lower surface of the frame for removably securing the device to the surface of the bathtub.

MARY MARTIN CHAPMAN 

